In harmony with the chef competition, the interior teams expanded the theme of wellness through their table-setting, service and ambiance to evoke serenity and natural beauty. Each tablescape needed to incorporate a bottle of Zacal mezcal from sponsor Superyacht Supplies, along with place settings for the six judges. From infused spa waters and aromatics to meditations and calming sounds, stews set the tone for the culinary wellness journey.
Yachts 180 Feet and Over
Chief stew Nora Edgington and second stew Paloma Estrada of Amor à Vida
Amor à Vida welcomed the judges into their Zen wellness retreat. With hanging crystals, natural elements and a sheer tent as the “energy healing temple” setting the ambiance, the crew welcomed the judges with anti-inflammatory wellness shots and wrapped the service with an “energy healing” speech.
2nd: Chief stew Aimie Keech of Starfire
3rd: Chief stew Tamaryn Smith of Elis et Mar
Second stew Paloma Estrada extended the theme by incorporating elements of earth, sky, plants and a subtle touch of water — with real sand on the table, tropical plants throughout the setting, a canopy overhead and a plant wall to amplify the tropical feel; plus, the crew dressed up as shamans and energy healers.
“It was such a fun and exciting experience,” rotational chief stew Nora Edgington says. “We are very proud of our team for bringing the vision to life and having the opportunity to share this experience together!”
Edgington’s yachting journey began in 2012, unsure of how long she’d stick with it, but she has come to enjoy the guest interactions, events and themes that let her express herself and her creativity. For Estrada, after working in tech sales, she realized it wasn’t a right fit and entered yachting with her best friend in November 2020.
Yachts 126 to 179 Feet
Chief stew Matilda “Tilly” Redmond of Asani
2nd: Chief stew Beth Pendrous of Amica Mea
3rd: Chief stew Michelle Riherd of King Baby
For the wellness-focused boat Asani, chief stew Matilda “Tilly” Redmond worked with chef Sims to determine what wellness meant for them — focusing on the four elements as they are used in nature to restore balance and equilibrium. Because the owners like to keep things elegant and use sculptures or flowers on board, Redmond knew they would have a large floral centerpiece, using their favorite flower of hydrangeas and adding in fresh herbs that were fragrant enough but didn’t overwhelm the palate.
“It was really just trying to link the flowers back to the use of the elements in nature,” she says. “So we started off with the light green, then finished down with a dark purple-y brown to show how a hydrangea would evolve in nature itself through the seasons and through the effects of the elements.”
Growing up in Cornwall, England, in her family’s hotel by the ocean, Redmond was quite accustomed to hospitality and living where you worked when she joined the industry in 2021 and Asani during the build, transitioning from second to chief after the build chief stew left.
Yachts 125 Feet and Under
Chief stew Alena Konysheva of Allora
To start designing the table, chief stew Alena Konysheva imagined how a guest should feel the moment they approach the table — calm, grounded and subtly uplifted — and strived for the setting to evoke serenity, balance and refined natural beauty.
2nd: Chief stew Isabel Tyrrell of Haze II
3rd: Chief stew Anais Michel of Kajikia
“Every element was chosen to reinforce a feeling of natural calm. I used fresh tropical leaves as the foundation, then added grounding components like rocks, a mini-Zen garden and soft natural textures to keep the table rooted in nature. I was intentional about leaving open space so the design could breathe,” she says. “The final result balanced natural beauty with mindfulness — a table that felt luxurious, immersive and deeply grounding.”
Gentle water elements from a small waterfall, delicate wind chimes, hand fans and a subtle Buddha enhanced serenity, and each handmade menu was decorated with unique pressed flowers. She placed a rock engraved with a single-word message, leading to a small moment of intention to center their attention and deepen the wellness theme.
Having always been drawn to exploring new places and cultures, Konysheva’s yachting journey began in 2012. Over time, she would discover her passion for hospitality design, especially the art of transforming details like a tablescape into something that elevates the entire onboard experience.